Improvement in corn-planters



F. A. GODDARD.

Corn-Planter.

Patented July 31, 1860.

//V VIA 70, 9;

N.PETERS. PHOTO UTMOGRAPH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F. A. GODDARD, OF LEXINGTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JNO. H.KENNADAY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 29,433, dated July 31,1860.

4 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F. A. GODDARD, of Lexington, in the county of McLeanand State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Corn-Planter;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a sidesectional view of my invention, taken in the line a; 00, Fig. 2; Fig. 2,a plan sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, a detached back view of oneof the seed-boxes; Fig. 4, a detached front view of one of thefurrow-openers; Fig. 5, a detached view of the gearing by which motionis given the seedslides; Fig. 6, a detached back view of one of thewheels of the machine with its scraper.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in theseveral figures.

This invention relates to an improved cornplanting machine of that classdesigned for planting either in drills or check-rows.

The object of the invention is to obtain a simple and efficient machinethat may be very readily adapted for the different work required of it,and one that may be readily manipulated and be underthe complete controlof the driver.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular frame, which is mounted on two wheels, B B.These wheels B are placed loosely on their axle O, and are connectedwith it when rotating forward by means of pawls a, which are attached tothe inner sides of the wheels and engage with ratchets D on the axleduring the forward rotation of the wheels, thereby causing the axle torotate with the wheels as the latter rotate forward.

E is the drivers seat, which is placed on the frame A between the wheelsB B; and Fis a toothed wheel, which is secured on the axle 0 directlyunder the seat E.

In the frame A and directly in front of the axle 0 there is a shaft, G,on which there is placed loosely a toothed wheel,'H. This wheel H has agrooved hub, 12, into which the forked end of a lever,'1, is fitted,said lever having its fulcrum at c and extending upward within reach ofthe driver on seat E, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The shaft G has a pin,d, passing through it, which. pin serves as a clutch to engage the wheelH when the latter is shoved in gear with the-wheel F on the axle O,which may be effected by actuating lever I. (See Figs. 2 and 5.)

At each end of the shaft G there is secured a crank-pulley, J, and tothese pulleys rods K placed on the top of each slide, and is provided.

with pendants i, which extend down into the seed-cells, asshown'clearlyin Fig. 1. Between the bottoms e of the seed-boxes N andthe slides M there are placed slides O, by which either seed-box may becut oft or closed to prevent the distribution of seed therefrom. Thebottoms e of the seed-boxes N N are each provided with adischarge-opening, t", and these openings are in line with thecut-oft'brushesf in the seed-boxes N, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

To the under side of each bottom 6 there is attached an inclined troughor guide-spout, O, of V form in its transverse section. These troughs orspouts O are inclined at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and theyhave a colter-edge and a polished surface and serve the double purposeof shares or furrow-openers and seed-conveying spouts. The spouts O arein line with the wheels B.

To the frame A, and directly behind each wheelB, there is attached ascraper, P. These scrapers are horizontalmetal plates j, secured to thelower ends of elastic plates 70, which have a tendency to keep theplates is pressed against the wheels B.

Q is the draft-pole, which is secured to the frameAbyahorizontal rod orbolt, 1. Through the draft-pole and at a point back of the bolt 1 a bar,R, passes vertically, the bar B being attached at its lower end to theframe A by a joint, m. The bar R is perforated with holes, and the backend of the draft-pole extends nearly to the drivers seat and withinreach of the'driver, so that the driver can grasp the back end of thepole and secure' it higher or lower on the bar R by means of a pin. Bythis arrangement the spouts and furrow-openers 0 may be made topenetrate the ground at a greater or less depth, and also be elevatedentirely above it, when desired, as in moving from place to place,turning at the ends of furrows, &c. The spouts and furrow-openers form asmooth furrow, effectually workingtheir way through tough clay soil andperforming as well in such asin light sandy soils. The slides Mdistribute the seed, as usual, while the wheels B cover it, the scrapersP keeping the peripheries of the wheel perfectly clean.

When it is desired to plant in drills the seedslides are operated fromthe axle O, the wheel H being shoved in gear with theavheel F but whenit is desired to plant in check-rows the wheel H is shoved out of gearwith wheel F,

and a lever, S, is fitted in the shaft G and the latter actuated byhand. The connecting of the wheels to their axles by the pawls a andratchets D prevents the useless distribution of seed as the machine isbacked.

I do not claim the scrapers 1?, nor the ratchets D and pawls a, by whicha connection is formed between the wheels and their axle as the formerrotate forward; but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The arrangementof the shifting wheel H on shaft G with the permanent wheel F on theaxle O, in combination with the removable lever S in shaft G, as and forthe purpose set forth.

1. A. GODDARD.

Witnesses:

GE'o. B. OKESON, THOMAS F. TIPTON.

